Here I’m giving you a rundown of some of my favorite things to do in Las Vegas with teens and tweens!
Hello Hello! How are you doing? I hope you had a great weekend! We had graduations, birthday parties and then packed up for a little adventure 🙂 Summer is here and I’m looking forward to visiting as many places as possible and escaping the scorching Tucson furnace.
For today’s post I wanted to share some Vegas highlights! We met the pilot in Vegas a few weeks ago, just for one night. (We also got an upgrade to the two-bedroom penthouse suite at the Bellagio and it was EPIC.)
It was the girls’ first time *real* in Vegas (the last time they were babies), and they’re obsessed. P said it was one of her favorite places (NYC is #1, then Vegas, then Honolulu, Rome and Barcelona).
While Vegas is definitely a place for adults, you can definitely have fun as a family with kids. Growing up, my dad took us to Vegas every summer, so I visited this place many times as a child and as an adult. It’s just as fun; Just in a different way 😉 This trip also gave me the opportunity to see some attractions we haven’t seen yet!
(The kids approve their photos on the blog and on IG. Sometimes they ask me to put an emoji on their face, so I do that!)
What to do in Vegas with tweens and teens
Here are some top travel destinations for teens and tweens:
(* = things we did on our last trip, everything else I’ve visited before)
*Madame Tussads
It was our first time here and we had an absolute blast. It was a lot more fun than I expected and the kids loved seeing so many different wax figures and taking photos. It was shocking to see how realistic they were; we often thought they were real people!
Leo is very tall 🙂
M&M factory
You can check out the different flavors, colors, and types of M&Ms and put together a little goodie bag from your top picks. (I also just like brown M&Ms and I can make a whole bag of brown peanut M&Ms which is a joy lol)
*Omega Mart in Area15
This was the girls’ biggest wish and we loved it. It’s just a short drive from the Strip and this area has tons of fun activities (like ax throwing, shops, small restaurants) and the Omega Mart. They had seen Omega Mart on YouTube and it’s like a quirky grocery store with crazy items and hidden rooms. You can spend a lot of time here. P also did the zip line that took her through the interior of Area15.
*Ride the gondola at the Venetian
This is another thing we haven’t done before and while I feel like it’s a little pricey for what it is, it was a fun experience. The gondolier took us around the canal in the Venetian and serenaded us, and the girls enjoyed it. It was also a nice way to enjoy the scenery and rest our feet after a long hike.
Top golf
There is a top golf attached to the slopes, making it an easy activity for the whole family. This wasn’t worth it for us since we have one in Tucson, but if you don’t live near a top golf course or are a golfing family it would definitely be worth it.
*Fountain at Bellagio
This is one of my absolute favorite attractions in Las Vegas. The fountains are so beautiful and I love the music. It’s free, it’s nice, the kids really enjoyed it too.
Watch a Cirque du Soleil show
We saw a few of them, but I really wanted to take the girls to one in Las Vegas. O at the Bellagio was sold out, so next time we will definitely book tickets in advance.
Ride the roller coaster in New York, New York
I haven’t done this since I was a kid, but it’s still going and still seems to be a hit.
Mandalay Bay Aquarium
This is another great option, especially if you have younger children or just want to escape the heat.
Museum of Illusions
We haven’t visited this particular location yet, but we have been to the Scottsdale and Barcelona locations and they were almost identical. If you don’t have one near you, I highly recommend it to spend an hour or so there.
Neon Sign Museum
It’s really cool to see the vintage Vegas signs and take photos. Definitely do this if it’s not summer as it gets pretty warm out there.
Something I haven’t done yet but everyone is raving about:
The Wizard of Oz in the Sphere
This is on our list for our next trip!
A blast from the past: Adventuredome at Circus Circus
We went there so many times as kids and it’s still going. Since this is an indoor theme park, the weather doesn’t matter. They also have an awesome roller coaster.
Eat!
Vegas has some of the best food and there really is something for everyone. If your kids like burgers, you’ll find incredible burgers here. If you love pizza, you will find the best pizza here. If you like good food, check out our RPM, Vanderpump or Yellowtail. Vegas also has crazy desserts everywhere. We have crepes, matcha ice cream and you definitely have to take the kids for a buffet experience. We love the Wynn buffet.
Business!
Vegas also has some of the best shopping. Any store your child likes; You probably have it. We definitely browsed a few Sephoras and athletic shoe stores.
A tip for Vegas with kids/tweens/teenagers:
We personally avoided the strip at night, mostly because it was just me and the girls there until the pilot could meet us. We had planned to stay on the north side of the strip – I feel like the south side gets a little more confusing – and leave the strip in the evening and then go back to our room.
We did Area15 at night, which was perfect, and then the Uber driver dropped us off at the fountains at the Bellagio to watch the show and we went upstairs to our room to use room service and relax.
If you’re staying at a hotel that has good activities (e.g. Caesar’s or Venetian for shopping) or a Cirque du Soleil show, I think you should do it at night so you don’t have to stroll the strip with the kids.
So tell me, friends: Vegas with the family or just with the parents? It’s definitely a different vibe, but great fun either way!
xo
Gina
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